Sanyo introduces Eneloop Kairo hand warmers

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Sanyo’s decision to bring their line of Eneloop-driven hand warmers to North America is rather felicitous for an increasingly chilly December. Smooth, oblong, and reminiscent of a Mighty Mouse, the Kairo debuts this month, eager to appear in stockings nationwide. The question is, who needs it?

While Sanyo’s Eneloop line of ready to use, rechargeable batteries have impressed many with their extremely long life and boundless utility, the Kairo itself seems like a seasonal gadget destined to be seen and then forgotten. The Kairo certainly looks pleasing — one model oblong in soothing pink or white, the other like a Zippo, in soothing white or chilly steel — but it seems a strange conduit for bringing the Eneloop to our shores.

Consider the price of the Eneloop Kairo: $34.99 for the KIR-SE1S (oblong), and $44.99 for the KIR-SL2S (Zippo). Though the first model promises up to four hours of moderate warmth and the second up to two hour of intense heat, one wonders why they need drop almost $50 in the first place. Certainly one can buy gloves, or, if an intensely cold situation necessitates, wrap their shivery fingers around a steaming beverage?

Next, one ought to consider the appropriate occasion for the Kairo to be used. Why not skiing, as you dip your hands into your pockets for a bit of a pick-me-up on the lifts? No, can’t do that. While a perfectly sufficient pair of $0.99 knead and shake hand warmers are safe and sturdy, it is doubtful the Kairo could withstand a wipe-out. How about on a boat, to warm fingers chilled from a gelid sea breeze? Scratch that. Electronics and water don’t mix. On the way to work? Unless you’ve got headphones peeking out, that little device is going to look rather strange on the subway.

Again, the Eneloop batteries are great, can be used over 1,000 times and are affordably priced for what they are — $11.69 for a pack of four AA Eneloop on Amazon — but they need a better device for leaving an impression.